Generating a user unavailability alert in a collaborative environment

ABSTRACT

Generating a user unavailability alert in a collaborative environment. An embodiment can include receiving a user input from a user indicating an unavailability of the user. Responsive to the user input, activity of the user in the collaborative environment can be analyzed to identify whether any pending actions are allocated to the user which relate to other people identified by the user&#39;s participation in the collaborative environment. Responsive to determining at least one pending action is allocated to the user which relates to at least one other person identified by the user&#39;s participation in the collaborative environment, a first message can be generated to be communicated to the at least one other person indicating the unavailability of the user, and the first message can be communicated to the at least one other person.

BACKGROUND

The use of real time collaboration and other forms of user collaborationhave proven useful for contributing to high levels of user productivity.Real time collaboration involves use of the Internet and presencetechnology for people to communicate amongst themselves. Further, realtime collaboration involves several kinds of synchronous communicationtools such as instant messaging, group chat sessions, web conferencing,telephone calls and telephone conferences. Other forms of collaborationinclude the use electronic mail (email), and the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One or more embodiments disclosed within this specification relate togenerating a user unavailability alert in a collaborative environment.

An embodiment can include receiving a user input from a user indicatingan unavailability of the user. Responsive to the user input, via aprocessor, activity of the user in the collaborative environment can beanalyzed to identify whether any pending actions are allocated to theuser which relate to other people identified by the user's participationin the collaborative environment. Responsive to determining at least onepending action is allocated to the user which relates to at least oneother person identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, a first message can be generated to be communicated to theat least one other person indicating the unavailability of the user, andthe first message can be communicated to the at least one other person.In one arrangement, the first message can indicate a new completion timeor date for the pending action.

Another embodiment can include a system including a processor configuredto initiate executable operations. The executable operations can includegenerating a user unavailability alert in a collaborative environment.The executable operations further can include receiving a user inputfrom a user indicating an unavailability of the user. Responsive to theuser input, activity of the user in the collaborative environment can beanalyzed to identify whether any pending actions are allocated to theuser which relate to other people identified by the user's participationin the collaborative environment. Responsive to determining at least onepending action is allocated to the user which relates to at least oneother person identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, a first message can be generated to be communicated to theat least one other person indicating the unavailability of the user, andthe first message can be communicated to the at least one other person.

Another embodiment can include a computer program product for generatinga user unavailability alert in a collaborative environment. The computerprogram product can include a computer readable storage medium havingprogram code embodied therewith, the program code executable by aprocessor to perform a method including receiving, by the processor, auser input from a user indicating an unavailability of the user.Responsive to the user input, by the processor, activity of the user inthe collaborative environment can be analyzed to identify whether anypending actions are allocated to the user which relate to other peopleidentified by the user's participation in the collaborative environment.Responsive to determining at least one pending action is allocated tothe user which relates to at least one other person identified by theuser's participation in the collaborative environment, a first messagecan be generated, by the processor, to be communicated to the at leastone other person indicating the unavailability of the user, and thefirst message can be communicated, by the processor, to the at least oneother person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for generating a userunavailability alert in a collaborative environment in accordance withone embodiment disclosed within this specification.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of generating a userunavailability alert in a collaborative environment in accordance withan embodiment disclosed within this specification.

FIG. 3 is a processing system configured to generate a userunavailability alert in a collaborative environment in accordance withan embodiment disclosed within this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer-readablemedium(s) having computer-readable program code embodied, e.g., stored,thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signalmedium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard diskdrive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-onlymemory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium thatis not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber, cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations foraspects of the present invention may be written in any combination ofone or more programming languages, including an object orientedprogramming language such as Java™, Smalltalk, C++ or the like andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus,or other devices create means for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmabledata processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

For purposes of simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shownin the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative toother elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate,reference numbers are repeated among the figures to indicatecorresponding, analogous, or like features.

Arrangements described herein relate to generating a user unavailabilityalert in a collaborative environment. A user may encounter a situationthat influences the user to focus attention away from a subject of acollaborative session. For example, the user may be assigned an actionunrelated to a current collaborative session, called home, or otherwisebe distracted. The user can enter a user input indicating that the useris to be unavailable, for example by selecting a panic button. When theuser indicates such, the user's activity in a collaboration session canbe analyzed to identify whether any pending actions are allocated to theuser which relate to other people identified by the user's participationin the collaborative environment. If so, a message can be communicatedto one or more other participants in the collaborative environmentindicating the unavailability of the user.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system (hereinafter “system”)100 for generating a user unavailability alert in a collaborativeenvironment in accordance with one embodiment disclosed within thisspecification. As used herein, the term collaborative environment meansan environment in which users collaborate via one or more communicationnetworks. Aspects of a collaborative environment may include, but arenot limited to, electronic mail (email), text messaging, instantmessaging (IM), telephone calls, telephone conferences, videoconferences, web conferences, social media (e.g., via social networkingsites), calendaring applications, and/or the like. Within acollaborative environment, a user 105 may participate in one or morecollaborative sessions. Each collaborative session may include userparticipation in one or more aspects of the collaborative environment.Further, each collaborative session can pertain to a particular subject,for example a project. One or more users can be assigned actions (e.g.,tasks) pertaining to the particular subject. Further, one or moreparticipants may be assigned responsibility for monitoring the progressof other participants on assigned actions (e.g., pending actions), ormay otherwise be impacted by the progress of other participants onassigned actions.

As used herein, the term “participant” means a person (i.e., humanbeing) who participates in one or more collaborative sessions. As usedherein, the term “user” also means a person (i.e., human being) whoparticipates in one or more collaborative sessions. Herein, the term“user” is used to distinguish a particular person who participates inone or more collaborative sessions from one or more other people whoparticipant in one or more collaborative sessions. Thus, the term “user”means a particular participant.

The system 100 can include a collaborative information system (CIS) 110.The collaborative information system 110 can include a messagedistributor 115, a collaboration information collector (CIC) 125 and acollaboration information buffer (CIB) 130. The CIB 130 can beconfigured to collect collaborative information related to use by a user105 of various collaboration media, such as IMs, electronic mail(email), calendaring entries, social media, conferencing media and thelike. In this regard, the CIB 130 can include various modules forcollecting such information, for example an IM information module 132,an email information module 134, a calendaring information module 136, asocial media information module 138, a conferencing information module140, a collaborative platform information module 142, and the like.

The system 100 further can include collaboration media clients 150 whichstore/record collaboration media, or have access to the stored/recordedcollaboration media, and from which the CIB 130 collects thecollaborative media. In illustration, the collaboration media clients150 can include an IM client 152, an email client 154, a calendaringclient 156, a social media client 158, a conferencing client 160, acollaborative platform client 162, and/or the like. The collaborativeplatform client 162 can be configured to include email, calendaring,social media, conferencing, unified messaging and/or otherfunctionality. In this regard, the collaborative platform client 162 canbe included in addition to, or in lieu of, one or more of the clients152-160. Examples of a collaborative platform client 162 include, butare not limited to, IBM® Real-time Collaboration, IBM® Lotus®Connections, and the like. (IBM and Lotus are trademarks ofInternational Business Machines Corporation in the United States, othercountries, or both).

The clients 152-162 can be implemented as one or more applicationsexecuted by the system 100. In one example, one or more of the clients152-162 can be implemented as a web browser that accesses one or moresuitable web servers that provide and receive from the system 100corresponding data. In this regard, the web browser can be executed tooperate as an IM client session, an email client session, a calendaringclient session, a social media session, a conferencing session and/orthe like. The present arrangements are not limited to use of a webbrowser, however. For example, the email client 154 and the calendaringclient 156 can be implemented by an application configured to operate asa client for such operations. In another example, the conferencingclient 160 can be a component of a telephone system, such as a VoIPtelephone system, and may include telephone call recording capabilities.Still one or more applications can be configured to operate as clientsas described herein and the present arrangements are not limited in thisregard.

In operation, the user 105 can enter a user input into the system 100indicating that the user 105 will be unavailable. For example, via auser interface (such as a graphical user interface (GUI)) one or morecontrols, such as icons, buttons, menu items, widgets or the like, canbe presented to the user 105 on a display, and configured to receive theuser input. In another arrangement, one or more controls, such as one ormore buttons, keys, or the like, can be provided on a mouse, track pad,touch pad, keyboard, display or other device and the system 100 can beconfigured to recognize a selection by the user of such control(s)indicates that the user 105 will be unavailable. In response to the userinput, a user unavailability alert in the collaborative environment canbe generated, for example as one or more messages, which are describedherein.

When the user decides that the user will become unavailable, the user105 can select any one or more of the described controls to indicate theuser's unavailability. In one arrangement, the control can be a panicbutton selectable by the user 105 to indicate that the user 105 isunavailable until further notice. Other than selection by the user, thepanic button need not require further user input. In anotherarrangement, when the user 105 selects the control, the user 105 can beprompted to indicate how long the user 105 estimates that he/she will beunavailable, a data and/or time when the user 105 expects to again beavailable, etc.

When the user 105 selects the control to indicate the user'sunavailability, the CIC 125 can initiate the CIB 130 to collectcollaboration media from the various clients 152-162 and store, at leasttemporarily, the collaboration media in the respective modules 132-142.As used herein, the term “collaboration media” means any media generatedduring a collaboration session, for example, text, audio, video, images,slides, and so on. The collaboration media can be media fromcollaborative sessions in which the user 105 participated, for examplewithin the last hour, the last day, the last week, the last month, thelast year, etc. In illustration, if the user 105 participated in aparticular collaboration session in the last day, all media from thatcollaboration session can be retrieved, or the CIB 130 can filter thecollaboration media to only retrieve recent collaboration media, forexample within the last day, the last week or the last month. The CIB130 also can filter collaboration media to ignore off topic media and/orpreviously sent unavailability messages, which will be described herein.

The CIC 125 can access the collaboration media from the CIB 130 andprocess such collaboration media to generate statistical data based uponthe collaboration media and/or the user's activity (e.g., participation)in the collaboration sessions. When processing text media (e.g., IMs,emails, calendaring information, etc.), the CIC can apply text analysisto generate the statistical data. When processing audio collaborativemedia, the CIC 125 can apply speech-to-text analyses to generate atranscript of the audio which may be processed to generate thestatistical data. When processing video collaborative media and/orcollaborative media that contain still images, the CIC 125 can applyimage recognition to generate related data, and process the related datato generate the statistical data.

The statistical data can identify collaboration sessions in which theuser 105 participated, those collaboration sessions in which the user105 participated heavily, those collaboration sessions in which the user105 participated moderately, those collaboration sessions in which theuser 105 participated minimally, and so on. The statistical data alsocan identify relative percentages of the user's total collaborationactivity with regard to the user's participation in specificcollaboration sessions. Further, based on the analysis of thecollaboration media, the CIC 125 can identify other participants whoparticipated in the collaboration sessions, any actions allocated (e.g.,assigned) to the user 105, actions allocated by the user 105 to one ormore other participants, the status of such actions, and so on. Suchactions may be pending actions or actions that have been completed.Still, the CIC 125 can generate any other data relevant to the user'sparticipation in the collaborative sessions and the present arrangementsare not limited in this regard.

In one aspect, to determine the status of actions allocated to theparticipant or allocated to other participants, the CIC 125 candetermine an amount of work completed on such actions. For example, theCIC 125 can determine a scheduled length of an action, the amount ofwork required to complete the action, the amount of work alreadycompleted on the action, and do on. In one arrangement, the CIC 125 caninterface with a collaboration tool, for example IBM® Rational TeamConcert™, to obtain such information related to the allocated actions.(Rational Team Concert is a trademark of International Business MachinesCorporation in the United States, other countries, or both).

Further, the CIC 125 can determine whether other participants in thecollaborative sessions may be impacted by, or otherwise should benotified of, the user's unavailability. If so, the CIC 125 can interfacewith the message distributor 115 to generate and communicate one or moremessages to such participants via the collaboration media clients 150indicating the user's unavailability. In illustration, the messagedistributor 115 can send one or more IMs via the IM client 152, one ormore emails via the email client 154, add/update one or more calendarentries via the calendaring client 156, send one or more messages viathe social media client 158, send one or more messages via theconferencing client 160, and so on. In one arrangement, the type ofclient 152-162 selected for sending the message(s) can be based on thetype of client used by the user 105 when collaborating with the otherparticipant(s) when the action was assigned to the user 105.

For example, the user 105 may select the control via the GUI indicatingthat the user 105 is unavailable. In response, the CIC 125 can analyzethe collaboration session media and identify information indicating theuser 105 was allocated an action to be completed this afternoon. The CIC125 also may determine that whether action is yet completed. If the user105 did not indicate, via the control, that the user 105 will returnthis afternoon, and the action is not yet completed, the CIC 125automatically generate and can send one or more messages to theparticipant who allocated to action to the user 105, and/or to one ormore other participants collaborating in the collaboration session inwhich the action was assigned, indicating that the action allocated tothe user 105 may not be completed as original scheduled. Accordingly,the participants will be apprised that the user 105 may not be able tocomplete the task by the target date/time. An example of such messagemay include a statement generated on behalf of the user 105, forexample, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to complete theassigned task I promised for today.”

If when selecting the control the user 105 indicated a date/time whenthe user 105 again will be available, the CIC 125 can estimate an amountof work left to be completed on the task, for example by comparing theamount of work completed to the anticipated amount of work required forthe task, and estimate when the user 105 should be able to complete theallocated action. The CIC 125 can communicate with the messagedistributor 115 to include in the message(s) that are sent the estimateddate/time when the action will be completed by the user 105. Forexample, the message(s) may include a statement “Due to unforeseencircumstances, I am unable to complete the assigned task I promised fortoday. I do, however, believe I can complete the task by Monday.”

Further, the CIC 125 can estimate a probability of the action beingcompleted by a certain time/date. For example, if today is Thursday, andthe user 105 selects the unavailability control, and a pending action tobe completed by the user is not due until next Monday, the CIC 125 canevaluate the amount of work necessary to complete the task, an amount ofwork already completed on the task, and the amount of other actions theuser 105 is tasked with for Friday and Monday. When evaluating the otheractions the user 105 is tasked with, the CIC 125 can identify a priorityof the present action and compare the priority of the present actionwith the priorities of the other actions. If the present action hashigher priority than the other actions, the CIC 125 can automaticallyreschedule the due dates/times of the other actions. If the presentaction does not have higher priority, the CIC 125 can schedule thepresent action around the other actions. Based on this information, theCIC 125 can estimate a probability percentage (e.g., 60%) that the userwill be able to complete the task by Monday. This probability percentagecan be indicated in the message(s) that are sent to the otherparticipant(s). For example, the message(s) may include a statement “Dueto unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to complete the assigned task Ipromised for today. I believe the probability I will complete the taskby Monday is 60%.”

The CIC 125 can estimate the probability percentage based on a number ofparameters. For example, the CIC 125 can process a parameterrepresenting a typical duration of unavailability, the position of theday when the user 105 becomes unavailable with respect to the weekend(e.g., the probability the user 105 still being unavailable on Mondaywhen the unavailability period begins on Friday), and so on. Of course,if the user specifies how long the user anticipates he/she will beunavailable when selecting the unavailability control, the CIC 125 canprocess this data in lieu of a typical duration of unavailability.

Further, if the one or more other actions are rescheduled to accommodaterescheduling of the present action, the CIC 125 can implement theprocesses described herein to identify one or more other participantswho should be notified of such rescheduling, and interface with themessage distributor 115 to generate one or more message(s) to the otherparticipant(s) indicating rescheduling of such tasks, the probability ofsuch tasks being completed at the rescheduled date(s)/time(s), and soon.

As noted, in some instances, a collaboration session may take placeusing audio information, for example in a teleconference or webconference. In such instances, the message(s) can be provided as audioinformation. For example, text to speech synthesis can be applied tomessage text that is automatically generated by the CIC 125 to generatea corresponding audio message. The audio message can be sent to otherparticipant(s) via one or more clients 152-162 suitable forcommunicating audio messages. Further, the user's telephone system canbe automatically configured to monitor incoming calls from the otherparticipant(s), and when such a call is received, present (e.g.,telephonically communicate) the audio message as a call answer message(e.g., using a voice mail system). A contact list maintained for theuser 105 can indicate contact names, telephone numbers, extensionnumbers, email addresses, IM identifiers, IP addresses, and the like,and can be accessed by the CIC 125 to determining whether an incomingcall is from another participant in a collaborative session. In thisregard, the audio message can be personalized for the caller.

The CIC 125 can initiate collection of collaboration media into the CIB130, processing of such media, and generating of the message(s) in realtime when the user 105 selects the unavailability control. As usedherein, the term “real time” means a level of processing responsivenessthat a user 105 or system senses as sufficiently immediate for aparticular process or determination to be made, or that enables theprocessor to keep up with some external process. Further, the CIC 125can implement any suitable algorithms to arrive at any statisticaldeterminations made by the CIC 125.

In an arrangement in which the user 105 selects the unavailabilitycontrol, but does not indicate when the user 105 again will becomeavailable, the CIC 125 can monitor the availability status of the user105. For example, the CIC 125 can monitor for a selection by the user105 of a control in the GUI indicating that the user is available, ormonitor for an event related to the user 105 logging into the system100. When the user 105 logs into the system, the CIC 125 can prompt theuser to indicate whether the user 105 wishes to change his/her status tobeing available, or to keep the status as unavailable, and receive acorresponding response from the user.

While the user 105 remains unavailable, and has not indicated whenhe/she will again be available within a specified period of timesubsequent to initially indicating the user unavailability, the CIC 125can periodically initiate the CIB 130 to update the collaborativesession information maintained in the modules 132-142, and the CIC 125can analyze the updated session information. Further, the CIC 125 caninterface with the message distributor 115 to send updated messagesindicating the user 105 still is unavailable, provide updated estimatesof when (e.g. time and/or date) assigned actions will be completed, etc.The period between updates can be, for example one or more hours, one ormore days, one or more weeks, etc. When the CIC 125 detects that theuser 105 becomes available, the CIC 125 can cease the updates of thesession information in the CIB 130, cease further analysis processes onthe session information, and cease sending further messages, at leastuntil the user 105 again becomes unavailable, or another participant inthe collaborative sessions becomes unavailable.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method 200 of generating a userunavailability alert in a collaborative environment in accordance withan embodiment disclosed within this specification. At step 202, a userinput can be received from a user indicating an unavailability of theuser. At step 204, responsive to the user input, via a processor,activity of the user in the collaborative environment can be analyzed toidentify whether any pending actions are allocated to the user whichrelate to other people (e.g., other participants) identified by theuser's participation in the collaborative environment.

At step 206, responsive to determining at least one pending action isallocated to the user which relates to at least one other personidentified by the user's participation in the collaborative environment,a first message can be generated to be communicated to the at least oneother person indicating the unavailability of the user. Further, thefirst message can indicate that a completion time or date of the pendingaction allocated to the user is affected by the unavailability of theuser.

In one arrangement, responsive to determining at least one pendingaction is allocated to the user which relates to at least one otherperson identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, a probability the user will be able to complete the pendingaction by an assigned time or date can be automatically determined. Inthis arrangement, the first message can indicate the probability theuser will be able to complete the pending action by the assigned time ordate.

In another arrangement, responsive to determining at least one pendingaction is allocated to the user which relates to at least one otherperson identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, the pending action can be automatically re-scheduled. Inthis arrangement, a new completion date or time of the pending actionallocated to the user can be automatically estimated, for example asdescribed herein, and the first message can indicate the new completiontime or date for the pending action. The message further can indicate aprobability that the action will be completed at the new completion dateor time.

In another arrangement, the first message can be a personalized audiomessage to be presented to the at least one other person identified bythe user's participation in the collaborative environment. Thepersonalized audio message can be telephonically communicated to the atleast one other person in response to a telephone call to the user beingreceived from the at least one of the other person.

At step 208, the first message can be communicated to the at least oneother person.

At step 210, responsive to determining a user input indicating anavailability of the user is not received within a specified period oftime subsequent to the user input, a second message to the at least oneother person can be generated indicating the unavailability of the user.For example, a new completion time or date of the pending actionallocated to the user can be automatically estimated, and the secondmessage further can indicate the new completion time or date. The secondmessage also can indicate the probability of the user completing theallocated action by the new completion time or date.

FIG. 3 is a processing system 300 configured to generate a userunavailability alert in a collaborative environment in accordance withan embodiment disclosed within this specification.

The processing system 300 can include at least one processor 305 (e.g.,a central processing unit) coupled to memory elements 310 through asystem bus 315 or other suitable circuitry. As such, the processingsystem 300 can store program code within the memory elements 310. Theprocessor 305 can execute the program code accessed from the memoryelements 310 via the system bus 315. It should be appreciated that theprocessing system 300 can be implemented in the form of any systemincluding a processor and memory that is capable of performing thefunctions and/or operations described within this specification. Forexample, the processing system 300 can be implemented as a computer, aworkstation, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, tablet computer, asmart phone, a personal digital assistant, a gaming device, anappliance, and so on.

The memory elements 310 can include one or more physical memory devicessuch as, for example, local memory 320 and one or more bulk storagedevices 325. Local memory 320 refers to RAM or other non-persistentmemory device(s) generally used during actual execution of the programcode. The bulk storage device(s) 325 can be implemented as a hard diskdrive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), or other persistent data storagedevice. The processing system 300 also can include one or more cachememories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least someprogram code in order to reduce the number of times program code must beretrieved from the bulk storage device 325 during execution.

Input/output (I/O) devices such as a keyboard and/or keypad 330, adisplay and/or touchscreen 335, a pointing device 340 and/or a networkadapter 345. The I/O devices can be coupled to the processing system 300either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Modems, cablemodems, and Ethernet cards are examples of different types of networkadapters 345 that can be used with processing system 300.

As pictured in FIG. 3, the memory elements 310 can store the componentsof the system 100 of FIG. 1, namely the CIS 110 and the collaborationmedia clients 150. Being implemented in the form of executable programcode, these components of the system 100 can be executed by theprocessing system 300 and, as such, can be considered part of theprocessing system 300. Moreover, the CIS 110 and the collaboration mediaclients 150 are functional data structures that impart functionalitywhen employed as part of the processing system 300 of FIG. 3. Inillustration, the CIS 110 and collaboration media clients 150 can beexecuted by the processor 305 to implement the processes and functionsrespectively describe herein.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,”“including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment disclosed within thisspecification. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “inan embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may,but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more thantwo. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a secondor more. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected,whether directly without any intervening elements or indirectly with oneor more intervening elements, unless otherwise indicated. Two elementsalso can be coupled mechanically, electrically, or communicativelylinked through a communication channel, pathway, network, or system. Theterm “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and allpossible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Itwill also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms, as these terms are only used to distinguishone element from another unless stated otherwise or the contextindicates otherwise.

The term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in responseto determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context.Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated conditionor event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or“in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition orevent]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],”depending on the context.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the embodiments disclosed within this specification havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description, but are notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of theembodiments of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and describedin order to best explain the principles of the invention and thepractical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the artto understand the inventive arrangements for various embodiments withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A system comprising: a processor configured toinitiate executable operations comprising: receiving a user input from auser indicating an unavailability of the user; responsive to the userinput, analyzing activity of the user in the collaborative environmentto identify whether any pending actions are allocated to the user whichrelate to other people identified by the user's participation in thecollaborative environment; responsive to determining at least onepending action is allocated to the user which relates to at least oneother person identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, generating a first message to be communicated to the atleast one other person indicating the unavailability of the user; andcommunicating the first message to the at least one other person. 11.The system of claim 10, wherein the first message further indicates thata completion time or date of the pending action allocated to the userwill be affected by the unavailability of the user.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the processor further is configured to initiateexecutable operations comprising: automatically estimating a newcompletion time or date of the pending action allocated to the user;wherein the first message further indicates the new completion time ordate for the pending action.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein theprocessor further is configured to initiate executable operationscomprising: responsive to determining at least one pending action isallocated to the user which relates to at least one other personidentified by the user's participation in the collaborative environment,automatically determining a probability the user will be able tocomplete the pending action by an assigned time or date, wherein thefirst message further indicates the probability the user will be able tocomplete the pending action by the assigned time or date.
 14. The systemof claim 10, wherein the processor further is configured to initiateexecutable operations comprising: responsive to determining at least onepending action is allocated to the user which relates to at least oneother person identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, automatically re-scheduling the pending action.
 15. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein: the first message is a personalized audiomessage to be presented to the at least one other person identified bythe user's participation in the collaborative environment; and thepersonalized audio message is telephonically communicated to the atleast one other person in response to a telephone call to the user beingreceived from the at least one of the other person.
 16. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the processor further is configured to initiateexecutable operations comprising: responsive to determining a user inputindicating an availability of the user is not received within aspecified period of time subsequent to the user input, generating asecond message to the at least one other person indicating theunavailability of the user.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein theprocessor further is configured to initiate executable operationscomprising: automatically estimating a new completion time or date ofthe pending action allocated to the user; wherein the second messagefurther indicates the new completion time or date.
 18. A computerprogram product for generating a user unavailability alert in acollaborative environment, the computer program product comprising acomputer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith,the program code executable by a processor to perform a methodcomprising: receiving, by the processor, a user input from a userindicating an unavailability of the user; responsive to the user input,by the processor, analyzing activity of the user in the collaborativeenvironment to identify whether any pending actions are allocated to theuser which relate to other people identified by the user's participationin the collaborative environment; responsive to determining at least onepending action is allocated to the user which relates to at least oneother person identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment, by the processor, generating a first message to becommunicated to the at least one other person indicating theunavailability of the user; and communicating, by the processor, thefirst message to the at least one other person.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 18, wherein the first message further indicates that acompletion time or date of the pending action allocated to the user willbe affected by the unavailability of the user.
 20. The computer programproduct of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises: automaticallyestimating, by the processor, a new completion time or date of thepending action allocated to the user; wherein the first message furtherindicates the new completion time or date for the pending action. 21.The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the method furthercomprises: responsive to determining at least one pending action isallocated to the user which relates to at least one other personidentified by the user's participation in the collaborative environment,automatically determining, by the processor, a probability the user willbe able to complete the pending action by an assigned time or date,wherein the first message further indicates the probability the userwill be able to complete the pending action by the assigned time ordate.
 22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the methodfurther comprises: responsive to determining at least one pending actionis allocated to the user which relates to at least one other personidentified by the user's participation in the collaborative environment,by the processor, automatically re-scheduling the pending action. 23.The computer program product of claim 18, wherein: the first message isa personalized audio message to be presented to the at least one otherperson identified by the user's participation in the collaborativeenvironment; and the personalized audio message is telephonicallycommunicated to the at least one other person in response to a telephonecall to the user being received from the at least one of the otherperson.
 24. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the methodfurther comprises: responsive to determining a user input indicating anavailability of the user is not received within a specified period oftime subsequent to the user input, generating, by the processor, asecond message to the at least one other person indicating theunavailability of the user.
 25. The computer program product of claim24, wherein the method further comprises: automatically estimating, bythe processor, a new completion time or date of the pending actionallocated to the user; wherein the second message further indicates thenew completion time or date.